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Dr. Nicholas Hamid

.: 2788-7090/7841/8831 : 2788-8960
: xiaodong.yue@cityu.edu.hk
Cheung.jacky@cityu.edu.hk
Dennis.wong@cityu.edu.hk

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2001

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Dr. Nicholas Hamid

.: 2788-7090/7841/8831 : 2788-8960
: xiaodong.yue@cityu.edu.hk
Cheung.jacky@cityu.edu.hk
Dennis.wong@cityu.edu.hk

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Dr. Nicholas Hamid

.: 2788-7090/7841/8831 : 2788-8960
: xiaodong.yue@cityu.edu.hk
Cheung.jacky@cityu.edu.hk
Dennis.wong@cityu.edu.hk

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Executive Summary of Findings of

2001 Study of Adolescent Idol Worship
in Hong Kong and Mainland China
Dept. of Applied Social Studies & YouthNet
City University of Hong Kong
Dr. Xiaodong Yue (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Jacky Chau-Kiu Cheung
Dr. Dennis Sing-wing Wong
Dr. Nicholas Hamid
Tel.: 2788-7090/7841/8831 Fax: 2788-8960
Email: xiaodong.yue@cityu.edu.hk
Cheung.jacky@cityu.edu.hk
Dennis.wong@cityu.edu.hk

The 2001 study of adolescent idol worship in Hong Kong and Mainland China surveyed
1,343 secondary school students in Mainland China and 298 in Hong Kong. It examines the
impacts of different ways of idol worship on young peoples psychosocial development.
I. Classification of Idols and Measures of Idol Worship
A. Classification of Idols
The kinds of idols worshipped by the students include:
1. Star idols ()(e.g., pop singers, movie stars, athletic stars)
2. Political idols ()(e.g., emperors, ministers, civil servants, generals)
3. Intellectual idols ()(e.g., writers, thinkers, scientists, artists, musicians)
4. Other celebrities ()(e.g., business people, professionals)
5. Non-celebrity idols ()(e.g., parents, siblings, relatives, peers, and
teachers)
6. Fictional characters ( )(e.g., Ultramen, Goku [the Dragon Ball hero],
Doraemon, Harry Potter)
Intellectual idols and political idols comprised luminary idols.
B. Measures of Idol Worship
The measures of idol worship in this study include the following:
1. Idol adoring ()( mean = 8.37 on a scale from 1 to 10)
2. Idol emulation ()( mean = 7.73 on a scale from 1 to 10)
3. Idol idealization ()( mean = 41.6 on a scale from 0 to 100)
4. Idol identification ()( mean = 57.7 on a scale from 0 to 100)
5. Fantasized romance with idols ()(mean = 22.6)
Idol-idealization refers to the adolescents tendency to regard the adored idols as the most
perfect and capable people in the world and as not fungible. Idol-identification refers to the
adolescents tendency to become the same kind of person that the adored idol is and taking the idol
as a model for self-striving.
C. Measures of Psycho-Social Development
In this study, the psychosocial development is measured by:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Self efficacy ()( mean = 56.4 on a scale from 0 to 100)

Social anxiety ()( mean = 46.4)
Consumption of products related to idols ()(mean = 37.7)
Intimacy with best friends ()(mean = 67.4)

Self-efficacy refers to how capable people feel to act by about themselves. It tends to a
basis for self-confidence and identity formation. Social anxiety refers to how anxious people feel
about social relationships. It is often a significant source of anxiety for people. Fantasized romance
refers to fantasized or imagined romance or love affairs with adored idols. It would lead to
indulgence in idol worship and would be a source of frustration and unrealistic thinking. Intimacy
refers to how close people feel about each other. It would be a basis for the adolescents social
well-being.
Analysis of data generally indicates that emulation of and identification with intellectual
idols generally produced favorable results for the adolescents psychosocial development whereas
adoring and idealization of star idols and fictional characters yielded unfavorable outcomes.
II. Major findings of the Present Study
A. Prevalence of Idol Worship

1. Worship of star idols was more prevalent among students in Hong Kong than in Mainland
China. Worship of luminary idols was more prevalent among students in Mainland China
than in Hong Kong.
2. Worship of star idols was particularly more prevalent among female students than among
male students especially among students in Hong Kong.
3. Worship of fictional characters was particularly more prevalent among younger male
students in Hong Kong than in Mainland China.
4. Worship of intellectual idols was much less prevalent among students in Hong Kong than
in Mainland China.
The above findings show that:
Adolescents in Hong Kong worshipped a lot more star and fictional idols;
adolescents in Mainland China worshipped a lot more luminary idols.
Females worshipped a lot more star and fictional idols than males.
B. Idol Worship and Self Efficacy

1. The student who worshipped intellectual idols was higher on self-efficacy. This was
especially for students in Hong Kong.
2. The higher students tried to emulate idols the higher their self-efficacy was. This was
especially for students in Hong Kong.
3. The higher students tried to emulate luminary idols the higher their self-efficacy was.
This was especially true for Hong Kong students.
The above findings show that:
Emulation of luminary idols tend to increase self-efficacy in students.
The emulation effect on self-efficacy was stronger for adolescents in Hong Kong
for idols in general.
C. Idol Worship and Social Anxiety

1. The higher identification there was with an intellectual idol in students the lower their
social anxiety was.
2. The higher emulation of luminary idols in students the lower their social anxiety was.
3. Social anxiety was particularly high in female students who worshipped fictional idols.
4. Social anxiety was particularly high in Hong Kong students who worshipped star idols
and was particularly low in Hong Kong students who tried to emulate intellectual or
10

luminary idols.
The above findings show that:
Emulation of intellectual and luminary idols tend to reduce social anxiety in
students especially in students in Hong Kong.
Adoring of idols especially star and fictional ones tend to increase the
students social anxiety.
D. Idol Worship and Fantasized Romance with Idols
1. Fantasized romance was generally higher in students in Hong Kong than their
counterparts in Mainland Chinese.
2. Fantasized romance was generally higher in students who worshipped star idols.
3. Fantasized romance was generally higher in students with higher idealization of idols
especially for female students.
The above findings show that:
Students in Hong Kong fantasized much more romance with star idols than their
counterparts in Mainland China.
Adoring or idealization of idols, especially star idols, tends to foster fantasized
romance with idols in students.
E. Idol Worship and Consumption of Idol-related Items
1. Students who worshipped fictional characters consumed more than others.
2. Students, particularly older ones who worshipped star idols consumed more than
others.
The above findings reveal that worshipping star or fictional idols would lead to high
consumption related to products of such idols.
F. Idol Worship and Intimacy with Best Friends

1. Intimacy with best friends was lower in students who worshipped star idols.
2. The aversive idol worship effect on intimacy was particularly evident in Hong Kong
students.
The above findings imply that:
Worship of star idols tends to erode intimacy with best friends in students
especially for those in Hong Kong.
Star idols might displace best friends in the minds of student worshippers.
G. Idol Worship, Idol Emulation, and Idol Identification
1. The student who worshipped an intellectual idol reported higher emulation of the idol.
2. The student who worshipped a fictional character reported lower their emulation of and
identification with the idol.
3. Emulation and idol-identification were generally lower in Hong Kong students than in
Mainland Chinese students.
The above findings show that:
Students spontaneously applied more emulation and identification to intellectual
idols but less to fictional ones.
Intellectual idols have more merits for students to apply emulation and fictional
characters have fewer for it.
Hong Kong students apply less emulation and identification to idol worship.
In short the present study generally finds that
Worshipping different kinds of idols had different effects on adolescents

11

psychosocial development.
Adolescents in Hong Kong and Mainland China had quite different patterns of
idol worship.
Emulation of and identification with intellectual idols are beneficial to
adolescents psychosocial development whereas adoring and idealization of star
and fictional idols cast undesirable influence on adolescents psychosocial
development.
Adolescents in Hong Kong were much less likely to apply emulation and
identification to intellectual idols and were more likely to worship star idols and
fictional characters. They were therefore less likely to benefit from emulation of
and identification with intellectual idols.

12

Table 1. Comparison of Types of Teenager Idols (1998-2001)1 2 3

Idols
Stars
Luminaries
Family
Friends
Others

Stars
Luminaries
Family
Friends
Others

2
3

2001 sample
(N=242)

Hong Kong Data

2000 sample
(N=185)

1999 sample
(N=132)

1998 sample
(N=46)

73.6%
6.5%
1.8%
1.6%
16.5%

44.3%
13.7%
20.9%
10.6%
10.5%

46.5%
14.4%
1.6%
1.2%
36.3%

68.1%
14.4%
3.7%
1.9%
11.9%

2001 sample
(N=652)

Mainland Data
1999 sample
(N=350)

1999 sample
(N=122)

1998 sample
(N=114)

39.6%
38.5%
9.4%
1.0%
11.5%

36.3%
32.9%
21.8%
4.1%
4.9%

23.9%
44.0%
11.8%
20.3%

39.7%
35.1%
3.2%
2.4%
20.6%

The table was compiled on the basis of four studies conducted between 1998-2001. The samples from
Mainland China were taken from secondary school students in Nanjing, Guangzhou and Changsha.
The celebrities listed in the table were jointly identified by three coders.
The others category includes ordinary other celebrities (e.g., businessmen, professionals and some public
role models), unidentifiable figures, imagery figures and self.

13

Table 2. Comparison of Top 10 Teenager Idols (1998-2001)1 2 3

2001 sample (a)

(N=242)
1. Kelly Chan *
2. Joey Yung*
3. Mariam Yeung*
4. Nicholas Tse*
5. Twins*
6. Sammi Cheng*
7. Edison Chan*
8. Gigi Leung*
9. God+
10. Cecilia Cheung*

2001 sample
(N=652)
1. Zhou En-lai+
2. Bill Gates +
3. Mao Ze-dong+
4. Nicholas Tse*
5. Father
6. Gigi Leung*
7. Richie Yam*
8. Albert Einstein+
9. Deng Xiao-ping+
10. Mother

2
3

Hong Kong Data

2001 sample (b)
1999 sample
(N=720)
(N=130)

1998 sample
(N=122)

Kelly Chan*
Nicholas Tse*
Eason Chan*
Joey Yung*
Sammi Cheng*
Andy Lau*
Mariam Yeung*
Mother
Edison Chan*
Father

Jacky Cheung*
Gigi Leung*
Arron Kwok*
Ekin Cheng*
Sammi Cheng*
Beyond*
Sakei Huko*
Kelly Chan*
Leon Lai*
Father

Mother
Father
Gigi Leung*
Mariam Yeung *
Ekin Cheng*
Michael Jordan*
Sakei Huko*
Arron Kwok*
Kelly Chan*
Zhu Ge-liang+

Mainland Data
2000 sample
1999 sample
(N= 350)
(N=122)

1998 sample
(N= 114)

Zhou En-lai+
Teacher
Father
Mother
Michael Jordan*
Mao Ze-dong+
Bill Gates+
Classmates
Lei Feng+
Lu Xun+

Zhou En-lai+
Self
Michael Jordan*
Bill Gates+
Tom Cruise*
Father
Jacky Chan*
Jacky Cheung*
Deng Xiao-ping+
Mao Ze-dong+

Zhou En-lai+
Mao Ze-dong+
Father
Mother
Lu Xun+
Zhu Rong-ji+
Bill Gates+
Lei Feng+
Deng Xiao-ping+
Shao Yun-huan

The table was compiled on the basis of four studies conducted between 1998-2001. The samples from
Mainland China were from secondary school students in Nanjing, Guangzhou and Changsha.
All names with * signs are star idols, all names with + signs are luminary idols.
In the Mainland sample, Zhou En-lai, Mao Ze-dong, Deng Xiao-ping, and Zhu Rong-ji are all politicians, Lu
Xun is a renowned writer, Lei Feng is a public hero and Shao Yun-Huan is a scholar.

14

Rec ommendations for Constr uctive Idol Worship

Dept. of Applied Social Studies & YouthNet
City University of Hong Kong
Dr. Xiaodong Yue (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Jacky Chau-Kiu Cheung
Dr. Dennis Sing-wing Wong
Dr. Nicholas Hamid
Tel.: 2788-7090/7841/8831 Fax: 2788-8960
Email: xiaodong.yue@cityu.edu.hk
Cheung.jacky@cityu.edu.hk
Dennis.wong@cityu.edu.hk

A. Recommendations for Young People

a. Diversifying the Idol Selection
One striking finding of our studies is that the teenager idols in Hong Kong primarily star
idols whereas teenager idols in Mainland China are primarily luminary idols. Thus, Hong
Kong young people should try to diversify their selection of idols and to identify the virtual
characteristics from different idols.
b. Demystifying the Admired Idols
Another striking finding of our studies is that teenagers often mystify their idols such that
these idols are often overly idealized and romanticized. As such, Hong Kong young people
try to have substantial appreciation with their idols instead of having superficial appreciation
with them.
c. Taking Idols as Role Models
Taking idols as role models has shown to facilitate psycho-social development of the
youngster whereas idealizing idols would jeopardize such development. Hong Kong young
people should try to emulate their idols and shorten their perceived difference with them.
Hong Kong young people should also try to appreciate more virtual characteristics of their
friends and family members and emulate them for self development as well.
d. Consuming Sensibly on Idol Commodities
Our findings show that high idol worship is positively correlated with high consumption of idol
relevant commodities, particularly for fans of star idols. So Hong Kong youngsters seek more
for spiritual gratification of admiring their favored idols beyond materialistic gratification.
B. Recommendations for Parents and Teachers
a. Be Proactive to Adolescent Idol Worship Behavior
Adolescent idol worship is just a natural and developmental thing for human development,
particularly in modern times. It serves a variety of psycho-social functions for young people.
Therefore, parents and teachers be more tolerant of such behaviors and be proactive about
how it may facilitate psycho-social development of young people.
b. Introduce Luminary Idols to Young People
Emulation of luminary idols has shown to be helpful to psycho-social development of young
people. Thus, parents and teachers should introduce more luminary idols for your people and

15

help them to inspire themselves by emulating such luminary idols.

c. Help Children to Learn to Manage Idol Expenses
High consumption of idol relevant commodities (e.g., concerts, movies, CDs, VCDs, posters,
books, T-shirts, fan-clubs, etc.) is an essential feature of adolescent idol worship nowadays,
especially in Hong Kong. Parents and teachers could take this opportunity to help young
people learn to manage their expenses well and be selective in what they like to pursue.
d. Develop Appropriate Curriculum for Constructive Idol Worship
To help young people to benefit from constructive idol, school teachers, social workers, and
youth services workers should develop appropriate curriculum for such endeavors in
collaboration with educators, psychologists, and mass media.

16